Medical negligence may can cause birth injuries.
Doctors have a responsibility to manage all risks faced by the mother and the baby, as well as to follow all protocols.
If a doctor fails to provide an adequate standard of care and newborn sustains injuries, as a result, the parents may be eligible to pursue compensation under their state’s medical malpractice laws.
Some ways medical negligence can lead to a birth injury include:
- Failure to diagnose a problem with the mother or infant, such as an infection
- Failure to call for a cesarean section when necessary
- Failure to identify a baby that is too large for the birth canal
- Failure to account for an unusual presentation of the infant
- Allowing the labor to last too long without intervention
- Improper use of vacuum device or forceps
- Developmental Delays
The injuries babies may suffer perinatally can vary widely. They include:
- Fracture of the clavicle (collarbone)
- Brachial plexus injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Anoxia and hypoxia
- Cerebral palsy
- Facial nerve damage
In addition, doctors are not the only members of the care team whose negligent actions can cause birth injuries. Nurses, midwives, and other members of the care team can also cause or contribute to birth injuries.
Preterm Labor Causes Birth Inujuries
In some cases, preterm labor and premature birth occur no matter what efforts mothers and their doctors take to prevent it. However, sometimes, the risk factors are apparent, and there are steps doctors can take to reduce the risk of premature delivery or help the baby be born healthy.
Sometimes, preterm delivery and related birth injuries may support a medical malpractice birth injury claim. A childbirth injury attorney can review your evidence and tell you if you have a valid case.
Some illnesses, medical conditions, and other problems increase a woman’s risk factors for preterm labor and premature delivery. Many of these conditions are manageable or even treatable if caught early before they affect the pregnancy or the fetus. If you experience any concerning symptoms during pregnancy, it is important to discuss them with your doctor as soon as possible.
The preterm labor and birth causes and risks generally revolve around the danger of a baby being born before their body and organ systems are fully developed. Babies born before 28 weeks of gestation are at the greatest risk for complications, but any baby born before about 38 weeks may struggle with complications related to prematurity.
Premature babies are generally very small, usually below five and a half pounds. They may require medical assistance breathing, regulating their temperature, and other autonomic tasks. Even relatively minor infections can dramatically increase the risk for preterm labor, in some cases.
Some preterm labor and birth causes and risks include:
- Undiagnosed and untreated urinary tract infections
- Some types of sexually transmitted diseases
- Vaginal infections, including bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis
- Maternal high blood pressure
- Vaginal bleeding
- Fetal developmental abnormalities
- A mother who is significantly underweight or obese
- Less than six months between pregnancies
- Placenta previa
- Maternal diabetes or gestational diabetes
- Blood clotting disorders
There are also additional risks that are more difficult to manage, including those with an increased risk of uterine rupture, those carrying multiples, and those whose pregnancy was the result of in vitro fertilization.
Birth Injury News
Child Dies After Father Removed For Quarantine Measures
The news has been bursting with news about the coronavirus outbreak in China, but we have heard of a tragic story that’s indirectly related to that outbreak that killed a teen with cerebral palsy. Reuters reports.
A father was taking care of his son in Hong’an when local officials took him away to quarantine him for the coronavirus. However, his disabled son was left behind. His son had cerebral palsy and was found dead a week later after his father was put into quarantine.
The teen’s father had asked relatives, village officials, and local doctors to take care of his son before he was placed into quarantine. However, the boy still died. When word of the incident was leaked to Chinese social media, it became a top-trending story. Two officials were removed over the incident.
While this is a highly unusual story, it shows the importance of having caretakers for people with severe disabilities. Parents fill this role with children. If they have to leave their children unattended because of work responsibilities, it puts the child at risk. All the more so when the child has disabilities.
We hope that the father in this case is able to receive some sort of compensation for his loss from the government. This was a completely preventable incident.
Mother Shares Her Experiences With A Traumatic Birth
Not all traumatic births are due to the fault of the doctors. Childbirth is a risky process even in the best of circumstances. One young mother talked about her experiences and what she’s been doing after she gave birth to a child with cerebral palsy. Lincolnshire Live reports.
The mother had a traumatic labor that left her child suffering from a lack of oxygen and permanent brain damage. The child had to stay four weeks in an NICU, then transferred to another hospital for recovery.
The mother was told at least once that her baby may not make it through the night and to prepare to say goodbye. Fortunately, that did not need to happen. The baby started to breathe on her own. However, an MRI showed that the child had massive brain damage. High flow oxygen helped save her life.
After heroic efforts by the medical team, the child began to gain weight and regulate her body temperature. These are important indications of health in an NICU. The child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, visual problems, and global developmental delay.
The mother is giving her as much care as she can and has begun work with a charity called BLISS for sick and premature babies. They are planning a skydive to raise money.